Ski boot

ABSTRACT

Ski boot permitting the introduction and the locking therein of a foot already wearing a preferably water-tight and thermally insulated shoe. The ski boot substantially comprises a rigid shell defining a seat for the receiving shoe, and a rigid cover means hingedly connected with the shell. The rigid cover means is lockable, in closed position on the shell for firmly retaining therein the shoe in which is inserted the foot of the user. The shell carries a seal strip which the cover means abuts in its closed position.

United States Patent 1191 Bertele' 1 Nov. 26, 1974 [54] SK][ BOOT3,613,271 10/1971 Geller 36/25 AL [75] Inventor: Giovanni Marco Bertel,Lurago FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS D Erba, Italy 1,816,811 6/1970Germany 36/25 AL [73] Assignee: F.B. S.A.S. dia Bertel Giovanni Marco,Lurago DE b (C Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Italy Attorney, Agent,or FirmWate:rs, Roditi, Schwartz & 22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 N538 [21]App]. No.: 389,697 57] ABSTRACT Ski boot permitting the introduction andthe locking [30] Foreign Application Priority Data therein of a footalready wearing a preferably water- Sept. 1, 1972 Italy 22976/72 tightand thermally insulated shoe- The Ski boot stantially comprises a rigidshell defining a seat for the 52 11s. c1. 36/2.5 AL receiving Shoe, anda rigid Cover means hingedly 51 1111. c1 A4311 00/00 nected with theShell- The rigid Cover means is lock- [58] Field of Search 36/25 R, 25AL, 50 able, in closed position on the shell for firmly retainingtherein the shoe in which is inserted the foot of the 5 References Citeduser. The shell carries a seal strip which the cover means abuts in itsclosed position.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTE unvzsmq 3 49,914

SHEET 3M 3 I I I I I I I I I SKI BOOT This invention relates to a skiboot.

Many types of ski boots are already known; made of leather or plastics.The known ski boots have the disadvantage of having poor strength andparticularly exhibit the disadvantage that therein only feet with sockscan be introduced, this being remarkably uncomfortable when the ski bootmust be put on or taken off outdoors, such as in snow covered terrain.

An object of this invention is to provide a ski boot having very highstrength and rigidity and which can be put on by a person who has hisfeet already inserted in shoes or similar coverings, which can bewaterproof and thermally insulated.

Another object is to provide a ski boot of the mentioned type, whichassures an efficient protection against possible ankle bone breakages ofthe ski boot user, and which inhibits any water seepage into theinterior of the ski boot.

These and other objects are attained by a ski boot comprising a shapedshell defining a seat for receiving a shoe, said shell having anaperture for introducing said shoe in said seat, the ski boot furthercomprising a cover means hingedly connected to said shell and lockingmeans for locking said cover means in superimposed relationship on saidaperture, said cover means and said shell being made of substantiallyrigid and tough material.

The invention will become apparent from the following disclosure of apreferred embodiment, shown in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski boot in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the ski boot shown with its cover means inraised position for permitting the introduction of a foot wearing ashoe, and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ski boot of FIG. I,wherein a shoe inserted in the ski boot is shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing, the ski boot comprises a shaped shell 1 whichforms the sole, the sides and the rear section of the ski boot. Theshell 1 defines a seat in which a shoe or ankle boot, such as shown at13 in perspective in FIG. 1 and in dotted lines in FIG. 3 can be placed.The free edges of the sides of shell 1 define an aperture through whichthe shoe 13 can be easily introduced in the seat defined by the shell,as is easily deducible from FIGS. 2 and 3.

Beneath the sole defined by shell I is placed a strip or layer 2 ofanti-slip material, e.g., rubber, while above the sole a strip of feltor other similar material is preferably fixed, as clearly shown in FIG.3.

At it can be seen from the drawing, a sheath 8 made of flexible material(such as leather or plastics) is fixed to the shell 1 by rivets 12 orsimilar attachment. Straps 9 bearing metal rings 15 project from sheath8. Locking rack-like levers 10, well known in the art, are connected tosaid sheath, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Along the free edges of the admission aperture to the seat defined byshell 1, there is mounted a shaped sealing strip 11, the function ofwhich will be apparent hereinafter.

At the front end of the ski boot, a hinge 3 is secured to the shell I,said hinge rotatably connecting a cover means 4 with the shell. At theupper end of the cover means 4, a flexible prolonging sheath member 5 issecured which is made of leather or plastics. Preferably, a strip ofsoft material such as felt, foam rubber or plastics, is bounded on theinner surface of the shell and the sheath member 5, as clearly shown inFIG. 3.

The cover means 4 is so contoured that when lowered on the shell 1 itcompletely closes (FIG. I) the aperture through which the shoewe:aringfoot can be introduced in the seat defined by the shell 1. In the closedposition, the cover means can be fimily locked by a locking strip 6,which has one end connected (e.g., through a hinge, not shown) to theshell, while the other end carries a metal ring 14 which, can be lockedand tensioned by a known rack-like lever 7 hingedly connected with theshell.

When the cover means is locked in closed position, the levers 10 can beengaged with the rings 15 thus firmly locking the shoewearing footwithin the boot.

In order to achieve unobjectionable functionality of the disclosed skiboot, both the shell I and the cover means 4 are made of a substantiallyrigid resistant material, such as metal or metal alloys orheat-hardening glass-fiber reinforced plastics or resins. Preferably theshell 1 and the cover 4 are aluminum alloy die castings. A section ofthe hinge 3 can be directly built-in within the shell and anothersection can be directly built-in within the cover means 4 at the time ofdiecasting, by which method the shell and cover means are formed.

It is obvious that, because the wearer of the ski boot is alreadywearing water-proof or thermally insulated shoes, he has no need ofsubstituting the ski boot for his shoes or ankle boots (thus practicallyexposing his feet) as is presently the case. It is also apparent thatthe ski boots can be left directly on the skis without any need ofdisengaging the same.

What I claim is:

1. A ski boot comprising a shaped shell defining a seat for receiving ashoe, said shell having an aperture for introducing said shoe in said.receiving seat, said shell including portions forming the sides, thesole and the ankle part of the ski boot, said aperture extendingsubstantially along the entire length of the sides of the ski boot, acover means hingedly connected to said shell at the tip thereof, sheathmembers of flexible material fixed to said shell and said cover means,locking members for locking said cover means in superimposedrelationship on said aperture, said cover means and said shell beingmade of substantially rigid and tough material, and sealing meansdisposed along the edge of said aperture, said cover means having aclosed position in which it rests on said sealing means.

2. A ski boot as claimedin claim 1, wherein said material of said shelland said cover means is a metal.

3. A ski boot as claimed in claim 2, wherein said metal is an aluminumalloy.

i= =l i= t

1. A ski boot comprising a shaped shell defining a seat for receiving ashoe, said shell having an aperture for introducing said shoe in saidreceiving seat, said shell including portions forming the sides, thesole and the ankle part of the ski boot, said aperture extendingsubstantially along the entire length of the sides of the ski boot, acover means hingedly connected to said shell at the tip thereof, sheathmembers of flexible material fixed to said shell and said cover means,locking members for locking said cover means in superimposedrelationship on said aperture, said cover means and said shell beingmade of substantially rigid and tough material, and sealing meansdisposed along the edge of said aperture, said cover means having aclosed position in which it rests on said sealing means.
 2. A ski bootas claimed in claim 1, wherein said material of said shell and saidcover means is a metal.
 3. A ski boot as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid metal is an aluminum alloy.